AAFP says sequestration cuts will hurt primary careSequestration is not the tool to use to improve health care quality and will hurt primary care, according to AAFP President Jeff Cain, M.D., who said the Academy is "dismayed and disappointed" that Congress last week failed to stop the mandatory cuts from taking effect. "Not only does it fail to produce targeted improvements in efficiency, but it threatens the programs that do work to meet these goals," Cain said. AAFP News Now
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CMS says sequester pay cut for doctors to begin in April:
The CMS said physicians will begin seeing a 2% pay cut in Medicare payments due to the sequester beginning April 1. AAFP President Jeffrey Cain, MD, called the cuts "blunt force trauma." Medscape (free registration)
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CDC: 1 in 5 adult smokers have tried e-cigarettesThe number of U.S. adult smokers who have tried electronic cigarettes rose from about 10% in 2010 to about 21% in 2011, according to a CDC study released on Thursday. Current smokers were more likely to use the devices than nonsmokers, researchers said. "There is still a lot we don't know about these products, including whether they will decrease or increase use of traditional cigarettes," CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden said. U.S. News & World Report/HealthDay News
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Widespread flu activity is declining in U.S., CDC saysCDC officials reported on Friday that the number of states with widespread flu activity dropped as of last week, from 22 to 12. Despite the slowdown, the CDC won't declare the season officially over until there are several consecutive weeks of flu activity below the 2.2% baseline, CDC's Lyn Finelli said. USA Today
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Report: Children with disabilities lack dental careChildren with developmental disabilities have higher rates of oral disease than those found in the general population, but many physicians and dentists lack the skills to provide needed care, according to an American Academy of Pediatrics report published online in Pediatrics. These children also face barriers to care, such as a fear of being touched, or financial or insurance issues that prevent them from getting treatment, the report said. Medscape (free registration)
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Why Platform Matters When Choosing an ERP SystemIn order to survive, grow, and compete in the digital age, organizations need an ERP that is highly flexible and able to adapt. So, what are the tough platform questions you should ask yourself when shopping for an ERP? Download the report to find out!

AAFP president points to signs of primary care's successRecently, one of our neurosurgeon colleagues wrote a post critical of primary care that appeared on the Neurosurgery Blog and later was picked up by the Association of American Medical Colleges' blog Wing of Zock. In his blog post, Robert Harbaugh, M.D., does a grave disservice to family physicians, medical students, and our country by misrepresenting and attacking primary care medicine. In the latest AAFP Leader Voices Blog, AAFP President Jeff Cain, M.D., responds by pointing out that primary care has been proven to lower costs and improve quality of care.

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